Chapter 57: An Unexpected Clue

"First, we apply an even layer of starch onto the duck breast, making sure every corner is coated."

Qin Lang spoke as he demonstrated.

"Crack an egg, beat it well, and brush the egg wash over the starch."

"Egg wash?" Zheng Kang, who was busy taking notes, couldn't help but ask.

"That's right." Qin Lang nodded. "The egg wash initially moistens the starch, helping it form a more compact base crust while acting as an adhesive to hold the outermost layer in place."

"More importantly, it enhances the aroma."

"You could say it serves three purposes at once."

Zheng Kang nodded thoughtfully. "So, the outermost layer is...?"

"Breadcrumbs and crushed nuts."

Qin Lang rolled the egg-washed duck breast in the mixture of crushed breadcrumbs and nuts, pressing it down firmly by hand until a light yellow coat formed on the surface.

"Breadcrumbs absorb oil, so we'll deep-fry it first to set the shape, and then put it in the oven." Qin Lang started heating a pot of oil as he spoke. "Drop a chopstick into the oil. When small bubbles form around the edges of the chopstick, the duck breast goes into the pot."

*Sizzle—*

Accompanied by the sound of frying, the surface of the duck breast gradually changed color in the pot, and a rich, deep-fried aroma slowly began to emerge.

"There's actually such an interesting method!" Zheng Kang's eyes lit up. "I've never known how to control oil temperature, which is why I always use the oven for cooking dishes."

"Oven temperature and timing are indeed easier to adjust, but some cooking processes simply cannot be perfected with an oven alone." Qin Lang smiled. "Look, the surface is now a golden-brown, which means it's almost ready to come out of the pot."

"Once out, remove the metal skewer used for shaping, and brush a layer of honey water mixed in a one-to-one ratio on the surface."

"Put it into the oven and bake at 200°C for another 5 minutes."

"The honey water enhances the crispiness, makes the finished product's color more enticing, and also brings out the sweetness of the various nuts added to the surface."

Closing the oven door, Qin Lang didn't stop his movements. "The dish could end right here, but to enhance the flavor..."

"It can be served with a dipping sauce."

"I'll teach you how to make a honey mustard sauce." As he spoke, Qin Lang began mixing methodfully. "Two spoonfuls of mayonnaise, one spoonful of honey, a little green mustard, white pepper, and a dash of olive oil."

"Mix well." After tasting the prepared honey mustard sauce, Qin Lang nodded with satisfaction and handed the sauce to Zheng Kang beside him.

"Have a taste?"

Zheng Kang dipped a chopstick into it, tasted it, and his eyes lit up.

"This flavor..."

A slight spiciness from the mustard, yet not pungent at all, accompanied by just the right amount of sweetness. Just a tiny taste made his mouth water rapidly.

Dipped into the crispy-skinned, soft-hearted duck modified by Qin Lang, this sauce would definitely taste amazing!

*Ding—*

An electronic chime sounded, signaling that the crispy-skinned, soft-hearted duck baking in the oven was completely done. The moment the oven door was opened, a rich, overpowering aroma swept over them, carrying faint notes of honey and nuts.

Because of the honey water brush, the crispy crust on the surface wasn't entirely golden-yellow, but rather tinted with a honey-brown hue, still looking remarkably appetizing.

A small slice cut with a knife produced a *crunch*—auditory perfection in its own right. The duck meat inside was plump and juicy, neither dry nor tough, and the cheese trapped right in the center was in a semi-molten state, oozing out slightly.

Dipping it slightly into the honey mustard sauce before popping it into his mouth, Qin Lang nodded with satisfaction.

Now, the flavor was just right.

"Come and taste it." Qin Lang looked over with a chuckle at the eager Zheng Kang beside him. "See if you're satisfied with this flavor."

"I feel like this should be enough to pass the Food Recommender assessment."

In Dongxia City, there was a Food Recommender who specifically evaluated poultry dishes.

Using this dish, Zheng Kang should be able to impress them.

"I'll try it!" Zheng Kang hurriedly picked up a piece, stuffed it directly into his mouth without even blowing on it, and sucked in breaths of hot air without being willing to spit it out.

Dandabao gave Zheng Kang a look of disdain, waddled over, and took a huge bite with an "Aowu."

A dish made personally by its Chef Master—it trusted it completely!

With that single bite, Dandabao was so excited that it entered three-dimensional pinball mode, its head bouncing back and forth inside its body with a *thump-thump-thump* sound.

After a short while, Zheng Kang, having recovered, excitedly chewed the completely transformed crispy-skinned, soft-hearted duck in his mouth, repeatedly giving Qin Lang a thumbs-up.

Seeing Zheng Kang like this, Qin Lang chuckled dumbly.

"Since there are no problems, it's your turn to make it."

---

"Teacher Qin Lang, thank you so much today!"

Zheng Kang grasped Qin Lang's hands tightly.

Under Qin Lang's guidance, he was now able to make this improved crispy-skinned, soft-hearted duck from scratch, reaching ninety percent of Qin Lang's proficiency.

Although Qin Lang hadn't taught him a brand-new dish, watching the dish he originally created gradually improve under the other's suggestions brought a sense of accomplishment far greater than simply learning a new recipe.

"You've worked hard enough." Qin Lang smiled slightly.

Zheng Kang's talent was decent. Although he was somewhat like someone trying to run before learning how to walk, starting to create his own dishes early on was still a skill in its own right.

"The details added during the cooking process of this crispy-skinned, soft-hearted duck can also serve as a reference when preparing other poultry dishes."

"Yes!" Zheng Kang nodded heavily. "My inspiration is gushing right now. I feel like I can create at least four or five new dishes after going back!"

Uh...

Qin Lang's mouth twitched slightly.

There really was no need for that.

However, he didn't dampen the other's enthusiasm, merely patting Zheng Kang on the shoulder.

"Master these thoroughly, and contact me anytime if you don't understand something."

"Got it." Zheng Kang nodded heavily and was about to walk out of Qin Lang's house when his peripheral vision caught something behind the living room coffee table, causing him to stop in his tracks. "Huh?"

"What is it?" Qin Lang followed Zheng Kang's gaze to the third hand-drawn sketch of the landscape resting on the coffee table.

That was the one where he hadn't been able to find the food spirit in the painting yesterday, and had casually left it on the coffee table when he got home.

"This draws a food spirit, right?" Zheng Kang couldn't help leaning in closer. "I think I've seen it before."

Qin Lang: "!!!"

"Where did you see it? When?"

"Just yesterday evening." Zheng Kang gave a cheeky grin. "Come to think of it, it has a bit to do with you, Teacher Qin Lang."

"Weren't you calling me around that time?"

"I was too excited and let out a scream."

"I was passing through a grove back then, and maybe my voice was too loud and scared a food spirit. There was a loud rustling noise, and then I saw that food spirit suddenly charge up into the sky and disappear."

"The sky was a bit dim at the time, and I didn't see it clearly, but thinking back carefully, it looks very similar to the one in this drawing."

Qin Lang's eyes gradually widened.

Judging by the description, this definitely couldn't be Senior Sister Tang Yu's food spirit, Tornado.

Therefore, what Zheng Kang saw was most likely the food spirit from the painting!